"Why do you keep this stuff?"
    Jean asks sweetly.

"Hey…that's not just 'stuff'…
    It's my history."

It made me laugh…
    almost cry sometimes
    and sneeze often.

My University notes…
    proving maybe
    that I actually went to class.

My Seminary notes…
    and papers
    saved just in case.

All my sermon notes…
    gems of course
    but never repeated.

Sunday worship bulletins
    sermon titles and hymns
    3000 services or more.

All my  church papers…
    saved by my mother
    treasuring my writings.

Piles of correspondence…
    a paper trail 
    of business and ministry.

Funerals and weddings
    marking 100s of events of
    agony and ecstacy

Treasured trash of course
    defying "moment" ideals
    past piles aren't the present.

I haven't dumped it all yet…
    but I'm condensing my past
    to fit in fewer boxes.